Tying-machine.



11.1). CoLMAN.

` TYING MACHINE.. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 190B.v 905 ,793. PatentedDec. 1, 1908. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. D. ooLMAN. TYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 7, 1908.

' Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HOWARD D cam/W. /iw-M ggf EEEKES..

H. D. COLMAN.

TYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 121312.?, 190s.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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HOWARD D. GOL/WAN.

ESEEE...

H.' D. GOLMAN.

TYING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED P EB.7, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W Howl/Amo COL/VLAN IW l I @xf'im UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD D: COLMAN, OF ROOKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BARBER-OOLMANCOMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TYING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application led February 7, 1908. Serial No. 414,681.

and useful Im rovements in Tying-Machines,

of which the ollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a machine for passing a cordory other securing element about an article or plurality nf articles andtying a knot in said securing element.

The embodiment herein'shown of my invention is particularly intended fortying such articles as maybe properly held by passing a cord thereabout'1n only one direction, but it will be'understood that certain featuresof the invention may be employed in the construction of mechanisms fortying or bundling packages 'or articles around which the securing deviceshould be passed several times or in several directions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front side elevation of atying vmachine embodying thefeatures of my invention. Fig. 2 is a rearside elevation ofthe machine.. Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof. Fig.4 is a perspective view of the table u on which the articles to be tiedare place and the mechanisms adjacent to said table. Fig. 5

is a'detail viewV of a means for holding theV knot loose until the slackin the cord has been taken up. Fi s. 6 and 7 are views of aclutchcomprised in t e machine. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of a portion ofthe cord-placing and knot-ti htenmg devices. Fi 10 is a fragmental etailview of the yie dingcon-v nection between certain of the mechanisms `and13 are detail views ofthe shear.

and the driving means therefor. Fig. 11 represents one of the cam disks.Fi s. 12 ig. 14 is a pers ective view of a portion of the guide tube.ig.'v 15 is a perspective view of one of the cord clamps.

Before proceeding to a detailed descriptignof the tyin machine hereinshown and described, I wil first briefly outline its preferredorganization, namm the several mechanismsy and .the order '1n which theyoperate.

The machine comprises va table or support for the articles to be tiedtogether. The cord vis. carried around the artlcle's placed lupon saidtable by a .longitudinally-movable exible tube through which the cordextends,

formation, leaving the cord behind it.

said tube being guided in 'traveling around the articles by a fixedguide tube through which said cord-carrying tube travels. ln order thatthe cord-carrying tube in its travel shall loop the cord into the formof a loose square knot, the fixed guide tube is given a substantiallycomplete square-knot formation at one side of the loop or coil whichencircles the article o`r articles to be tied. The cord carrier is ofsufficient length to completely iill the fixed guide and project beyondeach end thereof, one end of the carrier being connected to its actuatorand the'other end being adapted to present a cord to a clamp. It willthus be seenthat as the cord-carrying tube is passed through said coiland squareknot formation a loose, substantially comlete square knot willbe formed in the cord. en the carrier with the cord has been assedthrough the convolutions of the knot ibrmation, the free end of the cordis clamped and held stationary. The cord-carrying tube is then withdrawnfrom the 4coil and kiot a1 coil and knot-formation are slotted so thatwhen the cord-carryingtube is withdrawn the cord will drop through theslot and fall about the article to be t1ed. The clamp in which the freeend of the. cord is held and the member that moves the cord-carryingtube are then moved in op osite directions to draw the cord tightly aout the article and complete and ti hten the s uare knot formed in saidcord. 'l e cord is t en sheared at the opposite sides of the knot andthe article removed.

The embodiment herein shown o f my invention comprises a supportingframework 1, over the upper side of which extends a table top 2 having aslot 2a therein (Fig. 4). In bearings 3 and 4 fixed in the supportingframe 1s rotatably mounted a drive shaft 5 carrying at one end a fixeddrive pulley 6. Saiddrlve shaft has a clutch connection with a shaft 7from which the various mechanisms of the machine are driven, in orderthat said mechanisms may be stopped upon the completion of each tyingoperation and While an article or plurality of articles is being placedin position for the next lving operation. The shaft 7 is rotatablymounted in bearings 8 and 9 in the supporting frame. In this instancethe connection between the shafts-5 and 7 is made through a pinionl()fixed on the shaft 5 vand meshing with a spur gear 11 loosely mountedupon the shaft 7. In one face of the spur gear 1'1 is formed a circulardepression 12 (Flg. 6) having a recess 13 in one wall thereof. Upon theshaft 7 adjacent to the spur gear 11 is fixed a collar 14 extending intothe depression 12. Slidably mounted in a groove 15 in the collar 14 is aplunger 16 which is arranged to be projected 1nto the recess 13 by acoiled spring 17. When said plunger lies with its outer end in therecess 13 the spur gear 11 will rotate the shaft 7. The plunger 16 isdepressed to move it out `of the recess 13 by means of a clutch ring 18encircling the collar 14 and having a portion 19 arranged to engagee theplunger 16, move it out of the recess 13, and thus stop the rotation ofthe shaft 7. The means herein shown for shifting the clutch ring 18consists of an arm 20 fixed with relation to said ring, said arm beingpivotally mounted upon a lsuitable support 21 in the supporting frame.relation to the arm 20 is connected with a treadle 23 by means of a link24. A coiled spring 25 attached at one end to'the arm 20 and at itsother end to a fixed portion of the supporting frame tends to movetheclutch ring 18 into position to disconnect the shaft 7 from the driveshaft 5.

Upon one end of the shaft 7 is fixed a crank arm 26 (Fig. 2) having acrank pin 27 adjustably connected therewith in any suitable manner. Uponone side of the supporting frame is pivotally mounted a gear sector 28which is connected with the crank pin 27 by means of the connecting rod29. The gear sector 28 meshes with a pinion 30 fixed upon one end of ashaft 31. Two hubs 32 .and 33 (Figs. 3 and 10)*,are fixed upon sai'dshaft, said hubs having thereon lugs 34 and 35, respectively,against'which lugs the opposite ends of a heavy coiled spring 36 bear.One end of said spring alsooverlies a lug 37 formed upon a sleeve 38which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 31 adjacent to the hub 33. Theadjacent end of the loosely mounted sleeve 38 extends into an annularrecess 39 in the hub 33. On the sleeve 38 is formed a lug 40 adapted tolie within a recess 41 formed in one end ofthe hub 33, said recess beinglarge enough to permit of a slight amount of movement between said huband said sleeve. By providing the split shaft 31 and connecting thesections by theI spring 36 any liability of accident, particularly tothe cord, due to stopping orstarting the machine may or will be reducedto a minimum, if not wholly avoided. Upon the sleeve 38 is mounted meansfor actuating the cord-placing and knot-tightening means, but beforedescribing said means I will explain the construction of the fixed guidetube and related parts hereinbefore referred to.

Wit-hin and above the supporting framework l is rigidly mounted a guidetube 42 An arm 22 fixed with looped to form a circular coil 43, themajor part of which lies within the supporting framework, and -a smallersubstantially cir-l cular coil 44 above the table top 2,- the portion of-said tube joining said coils bein looped'in the form of a loose,substantially` tube is severed to permit. the twine drawn from theadjacent portion of the coil 44 and adjacent coils of the knot to bedrawn around the article and out of the tube (Fig. 14) as will appearmore fully hereinafter. The coil 44 and the knot formation 45 aresupported above the table top 2 by means of two members 48 rigidly fixedto said table top. In thepresent.embodiment, the articles to be tiedtogether rest upon a table 49 supported above the table top l2 in ahorizontal plane passing through the coil 44, by means of standards 50and 51. The table 49 comprises tw'o sections 49a and 49b providingbetween them a throatway 52 throughjvhich the cord may pass when theknot is being tightened. In Fig. 4 the table section 49.a is shown indotted lines.

While the coil 44 is herein shown as lying in a vertical plane, it isobvious that it may be disposed in any position necessary to place thecord about the article or articles to bev tied. i

Within the guide tube 42 is movably supported a means for carrying acord or other securin element around the articles to' be bundle andthrough the knot formation 45. In the resent instance, said meanscomprises a exible tube 53 consisting of a tightly` coiled s ring. Thetube 53 is provided at one endp with an eyelet 54 (Fig. 3) and isconnected at its opposite end to an arm 55 rigidly mounted upon thesleeve 38 and extending through the slot 2 in the table top. In thisembodiment the connection between the flexible tube 53 and the arm 55 ismade by means of a short tube 56 to which said flexible tube isattached, said short tube being fixed to a stem 57 (Fi s. 8 and 9)slidably tubes 43, 45 and 44 and to the clamps 7o and 78 in the ordernamed.

A suplply of cord in anyv suitable form is provide at a convenient pointon the maiso chine. I have herein shown a ball 59 (Fig. 1) lying withina holder 60 fixed in the machine frame. From the holder the cord passesthrough eyes 61 fixed on the arm 55, through' the slot 46, into theflexible tube 53, and through the eyelet 54 atthe forward end of saidtube.

At a suitable point upon the arm 55 the cord is arranged to be. clampedat the proper gine by means of the clamp illustrated in 62 is a clampmember fixed to an arm 63, which arm is pivoted upon the arm 55. Themember 62 is arranged to clamp. the cord between itself and the arm 55,a groove 64 bein formed in said arm to receive' the forwar end of themember 62. The cord lies between the arm 63 and a block 65 mounted onthe arm 55, in position tobe clamped whenever the arm 63 is thrown intoclamphing position. A spring 66 tends to hold said arm in either of twopositions, the member 62 limiting the pivotal movement of said arm inone direction, its movement in the opposite direction being limited by apin 67.

V68 is a pin arranged to be engaged by the arm 63 for opening the clamp,and 69 is a pin for throwing said arm into clamping position.

While the knot is being tightened the free end of the cord is held in aclamp 70 located at one end of an arm 71 arrangedto be--projectedthrough one loo of the knot formation 45, and, when with rawn, tocomplete a square knot in the cord. One end of the arm 71 is bifurcatedand in the bifurcation is mounted a slide 72 (Fig. 15) having anelongated guide opening 73 therein through which two pins 74 fixed inthe arm 71 extend. An o ening 75 extends through the outer end of t earm 71. In the slide 72 is formed a similar opening 76 adapted toregister with the opening 75. A coiled spring 77 lyin between thc rearend of the slide 72 an the end wall of the bifurcation of the arm 71tends to move the slide to throw the openings 75 and 76 out of register.When the arm 71 stands in the osition shown in Fig. 4 the outer end oftiie slide 72 is ressed against a xed member 78 and t ereby forcedrearwardly in its bifurcation far enough to bring the openings 75 and 76into register.

The arm 71 has an upwardly extending l portion which is pivoted to alever 79 mounted upon a 1vot 80, said pivot being carried by a brac 'et81 fixedvln the supporting frame. The lever 79 extends through the slot2a of the table top 2. The means herein shown foroscillating the lever79 comprises a disk 82 (Fig. 11) rigidly mounted upon the l sleeve 38andV having a cam groove 83 formed in one of its sides. The portion'84of sail groove is substantially concentric with the axis of the disk 82,the larger part of the movements of the lever 79 being occasioned thediverging` portion 85 of said groove.

a connecting rod 86 carrying a pin 87 that l lies in the cam groove 83,one end of said rod being adjustably attached to the lever 79 bv a pivotpin 88 adjustably fixed Within an e ongated o ening 89 in said lever.The rod 86 is slidab y mounted vupon and guided by the sleeve, saidsleeve extending throu h a slot 90 in said rod. The portion 91. of tiewall of thegroove 83, when in Vengagement with the pin 87, holds the arm71 pressed against the stop 78, thus keeping the cord- `clamp 70 open.When the cam .portion 91 is rotated awa from the pin 87 the springtiming the operation of said clamp the part of the groove wall whichbears the cam portion 91 may be made separatefrom the remainder of thedisk and adjustably secured in place, as shown in Fig. 11, by set screws92 extending through slots 93 in the adjustable section.

The arm 7l is ositively carried into posiof the arm 79 with a pin 94fixed in t e arm 71. (Figs. 3 and 4). Said arm is yieldingly drawnthrough the knot formation 45 by reason of the pivotal connectionbetween 'I said arm and the lever 79. As the latter approaches theposition shown in dotted lines i 1n Fig. 2 the arm 71 strikes against astop 9 5 fixed to the table top 2 and projecting mto the path of saidarm, thereby throwing said arm into the position indicated in dottedlirlies in Fig. 2, and raising the cord within the s ear.

f movement of the arm 55 in the direction of i the arrow a, Fig. 1, theflexible tube 53 being l projected to the 4end of the knot formation 45l and through the clamp .70, as shown in Fig. i 3. The arm 55 is thenrocked in the op osite direction, withdrawing said flexible tube.

As the end of said flexible tube slips out of the openings 7F, and 76the arm 71 1s moved to the left (Fig. 1) sufficiently to clamp the endof the cor(- projecting beyond the eyelet l 54 between the walls of saidopenings. As

the flexible tube 53 is withdrawn from the |.coil 44 and theknot-formation 45 the cord i drops through the slot 46, falling looselyI about the package. The diverging art 85 of the cam groove 83 nowcauses the lldver 79 to begin its outward throw. The continuing Lmovement of the arm 55 and the lever 79 in l op osite directions wouldtighten the knot be ore'the loop extending around the article or packagewere drawn tight, unless means were provided for preventing the loops ofthe knot from drawing together. The means herein shown forthis purposeconsists of two f fingers 96 (Fig. 5) each mounted upon a pivot l pin 97lying Vwithin vertical elongated open- 77 closes said c amp. To permitof properlyv The cord is passed around the article by a` b The lever 79is connected with the disk 82 by tion to receive t e cord by the engaement ings 98 in a bracket 99 fixedto the bracket 50. Upon the adjacentfaces of the hubs of said fingers are formed 'gear teeth meshing withadouble rack bar 100 slidably mounted in said bracket. The lower end ofthe rack bar 100 is connected by means of a link 101 with one arm of abell-crank lever 102 pivoted in the supporting frame. The other arm ofsaid lever carries a roller stud lying within a cam groove 103 in a disk104 fixe upon the shaft 7. As the flexible tube 53 is withdrawn from theknot-formation 45 the loops of the knot are drawn about the fingers 96by the lever 79. After said lever has taken up the slack in the loop 'ofcord extending about the article, the continuing movement of said levertightens the knot, the rack bar 100 simultaneously closin together thefingers 96 and drawing them downward out of the knot, as indicated indotted lines in Fi 5.

yIVhen the knot has been drawn ti ht, the cord is severed at oppositesides of t e knot by means to be next described.

.Slidably mounted in guide-ways 105 (Fig. 4) in the table 49 are twobars 106 carrying at their forward ends shear members 107 ada ted -tocoact with stationary shear bla es 108.' At one side of oneof the bars106 is a stationary clamp member l109 between which and the shear member107 the end of the cord running to the flexible carrier 53 is clampedbefore the cord is cut. The end of the cord held in the clamp is guidedinto thev left-hand shear by a slotted guide plate 111, said plate alsoserving to prevent the cord drawn from the adjacent part of theknot-formation from catching upon the shear 107.

The rear ends of the bars 106 are connected by means of the cross bar112. A lever 113 (Fig. 3) is pivotally mounted between its ends in thesupporting frame. The upper end of said lever has a pin and slotconnection with the cross bar` 112. The lower end of said lever carriesa roller stud lying within a cam roove formed in a disk 114 fixed uponthe s aft 7.

When the arm 55 and the lever 79 occupy the positions shown in Fig. 1the flexible tube 53 extends through the coil 44 and the knot formation45 and through the thread clamp 70 The article or pluralit of articlesto be tied is placed upon the tab e 49. The operator now 'lepresses thetreadle 23, withdrawing the clutch ring 18 from engagement with the.plunger 16, which plunger is projected into the recess 13 as soon assaid recess comes into register therewith. The operator releases thetreadle as soon as the mechanism begins o erating. The shaft 7 is nowrotated and t e sector 28 oscillated, swinging the arm 55 toward theright (Fig. 1) and By the time the carrier 73 has been withdrawn fromthe clamp 70, the cam part 91 has been rotated away from vthe stud 87,allowing the clamp 70 to seize the loose end of the cord. The movementof the arm 55 as it withdraws .the carrier 53 from the tube 44 and theknot formation pulls said carrier over a fresh supplyof cord, the cordrunning` from the holder 60, through the eyes 61, and into the carrier.As the arm 55 passes the pin 69 the clamp 62 is operated to clamp thecord. The lever 79 now begins its outward movement, the loop about thearticle and theloops of the knot beine' tightened by the continuedmovements of the arm 55 and the lever 79 inopposite directions. When theknot has been tightened the two shears 107 108 are operated to cut thecord at opposite sides of the knot. The tied package or article may now4be removed. Upon the return stroke of the arm l55 the carrier is pushedthrough the coil 44 and the knotformation, the clamp 62 being openedwhen the arm 63 strikes against the pin 68. Before the carrier 53reaches the end of the knot formation the clamp 70 has been positioned`by the lever 79 to receize said carrier. The plunger 16 has nowcompleted one revolution and, engaging the portion 19 of the clutch ring18, is moved out of engagement with the gear wheel 11,` the mechanismscoming to a stop in positionl for the next operation.

It will be apparent that various mechanical embodiments of thein'fention are possible, and I therefore do not limit myself to thearrangement and construction shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tying machine, the combination of a structure having a recesstherein for the reception ofthe article to be tied, and a knotformingpassageway surrounding said recess, and means for depositing cord orsimilar material within said passageway.

2. In a tying machine, the combination of a structure having therein anaperture or recess for the reception of the article to be tied,

' said structure having also a passageway therein surrounding saidaperture, the said passageway being so arranged as to form the desiredknot, and said structure having a slot connecting said passageway withsaid aperture or recess, and a flexible twine carrier adapted to beinserted into said passageway.

' 3. In a tying machine, the combination ofa structure having anaperture therein for the reception of an article to be tied, and meansfor knotting twine around said article, said means comprising a flexiblecarrier having a bore therethrough for the reception of twine, a supportfor said carrier, the said structure hazing a tortuous passagewa therebywithdrawing the flexible tube 53 therein of such shape as to give to thepat from the knot formation 45 and the coil 44.

of the carrier a shape corresponding to the viiexible tubular device for`knot to be formed,I and means for engaging the end of the twine andpermitting the flexible carrier to be withdrawn from the passageway andslide over the twine during such withdrawal.

4. As a means for threading twine into 'a tortuous passageway to form aknotv from said twine, a flexible carrier.

5. The combination of a structure having therein a passageway arrangedto form a knot in twine or similar material, and a passing the twinethrough said passageway.

6. As a means for threading twine into a tortuous passageway to form aknot from said twine, a flexible tubular twine carrier.

7. In a tying machine, a structure having therein a passa eway of knotformation, and a coiled spring or introducing. twine or similar materialinto said passage-way.

8. As a means for threading twine through a tortuous passageway to forma knot in the twine, the combination of a flexible carrier having acentral bore therethrough and a hollow support for said carrier having abore communicating with the `carrier bore.

9. A tying mechanism vcom rising a tube and a flexible cord carrier fiarforming a square knot.

10. In a tying machine, a knot-loop-forming means comprising a tubelooped into knot form. Y

11. In a tying machine, a tube arranged in the form of a knot, and asubstantially circulat tube communicating with the first mentioned tube.

12. In a tying machine, a tube arranged in the form of a knot, asubstantially circular tube communicating with the first mentioned tube,a flexible twine carrier mounted in said tubes, and a pivoted arm formoving 'said carrier.

13. In a tying machine, al tube arranged in the form of a closed loo andin the form of a knot at one side of said) loop; and means for plicingtwine Vor similar material in said tu e.

14. In van a paratus ofthe character herein set forth,'t }he combinationof an element having therein a passageway arranged to form a knot intwine or similar material, and means for depositing the twine or similarmaterial within said passageway.

15. In an a paratus ofthe character herein set forth, t e combination ofan element having therein means for forming twine or similar materialinto a knot, and a iexible carrier connected therewith for supplyingtwine or similar material thereto.

16. In an a paratus of the character herein set forth, t e combinationof an element having therein a passageway arranged to form a knot intwine or similar material, means for. depositing twine or similarmaterial within said passageway, and means for retaining the twine orsimilar material within said element during the withdrawal of thedepositing means.,

-17 In an a paratus ofthe character herein set forth, t e combination ofan element having therein a passageway arranged to form a knot in twineor similar material, means for depositing twine in said passageway, andmeans for automatically tautening the twine during the removal of thedepositing means from saidelement. l

18, In an a paratus of the character herein set forth, t ie combinationof an element having therein an aperture for the/.reception of the'article to be tied, and a tortuous passageway surrounding said apertureand arranged to form a knot in twine or similar material, anda channelestablishing communication between said passageway and the aperture,means for depositing twine in said passageway, and means operative uponthe withdrawal of the twine-depositing means for automatically drawingthe twine through said channel into the aperture.

19. In an a paratus of the character herein set forth, the combinationof an element having an aperture therein for the reception of thearticle to be tied, said element having therein a tortuous passagewasurrounding said aperture and so arrange( as to form a knot in twine orsimilar material, a grippin device for the twine operatively associatewith said element, a flexible carrier for the twine, adapted to bring aportion of the twine carried thereb into operative relation 100 to saidgripping device, and a Atension device adapted to automatically tautenthe twine during the withdrawal of the carrier from the passageway.

20. In an a paratus of the character here- 105 in set forth, t ecombination of an element having an aperture therein for the receptionof the article to be tied, said element having therein a tortuouspassagewa surrounding said aperture and so arrange as to form a 110 knotin twine or similar material, and a channel communicating with saidaperture, a passageway, a gripping device for twine operativelyassociated with said element, a

-flexible carrier for the twine, adapted to bring a portion of the twinecarried thereby into operative relation to said gripping device, and atension device adapted to automatically tauten the twine during thewithdrawal of the carrier from the passageway.

21. In an apparatus of the character herein set forth, the combinationof an element having an aperture for the reception of the article to betied, a tortuous passageway extending through said element andsurrounding said aperture and a channel in said element estabhshingcommunication between said passageway and said aperture, a grippingdevice adjacent to the outlet end of the passageway, and means foi`threading twine 13o through said passageway and bringing a por-i tionthereof into operative relation to said gripping device. I

22. In an a paratus of theL character herein set forth, the combinationof an element having an aperture for the reception of the article to betied, a tortuous passageway eX- tending through said element andsurrounding said aperture, and acha'nnel in said ele-l ment establishingcommunication between said passageway and said aperture, a grippingdevice adjacent to the outlet end of the passageway, a fiexible carrierfor threading twine through said passageway and bringing a portionthereof into operative relation to said gri ping device, and a tensiondevice associate with said carrier.

23. In an a paratus of the character herein set forth, t e combinationof an element having an aperture therein for the reception of thearticle to be tied, and a tortuous passageway extending therethrough andsurrounding said aperture and a channel eX`- tending betweensaidpassageway and said aperture, a tubular support adjacent to theinner end of the passageway, a gripping device adjacent to the outletend of said passageway, a flexible carrier operatively mounted in saidsupport and arranged to be threaded through said passageway and bring aportion of the twine into operative relation lto the gripping device, atension device associated with said carrier, and twine-'severing meansbetween said tubular support andthe inlet end of the passageway.

24. In a tyin machine, a tube arranged in the form of a ot; a tubecommunicating with the first mentioned tube; a flexible twine carriermounted in said tubes; means for moving said carrier through said tubes;means for clam ing the twine mserted in the first mentione( tube by saidcarrier; and means for supplying twine to said carrier during itsmovement away from the first mentioned tube.

25. In a tying machine, a tube arranged in the form of a knot; asubstantially circular tube communicating with the Vfirst mentionedtube; a flexible twine carrier mounted in said tubes; an arm pivotedcentrally of said circular tube for moving said carrier; means for supplyin twine from a point near the pivotal center o said arm; and meansfor clamping the end of the twine inserted in the first mentioned tube.

26. In a tying machine, a tube arranged in vthe form of a knot; asubstantially circular tube communicating with the first mentioned tube;a fiexible twine carrier mounted in said tube; a pivoted arm for movingsaidcarr'ier; means for clamping the end of the twine inserted in thefirst mentioned tube; a twine clamp on said arm and means for operatingsaid clamps.

27. In a tying machine, a tube arranged in the form of a knot; asubstantially circular tube communicating with the first mentioned tube;a flexible twine carrier mounted in said tubes; a pivoted arm for movingsaid car'-,l rier; a clamp for the end of the twine inserted in thefirst mentioned tube; a twine clamp on said arm; means for opening saidclamp after the twine has been inserted in the first mentioned tube; andmeans for closing said last mentioned clamp after the carrier has beenwithdrawn from said first mentioned tube.

28. A tying mechanism comprising means for formin an article-encirclingloop and the loo s of a not; means for tighteningsaid artic e-encirclingloop; two fingers for holding the loops of the knot open while thearticle encircllng loop is bein tightened; and means for withdrawmg saidfingers from the knot.

29. A tying machine comprising means for forming a loo about ,anarticle, means for bringing said oop into contact with said article andfor tightening it, said means comprising a positively moved member and ayieldin ly moved member.

30. n atying machine, means for forming a loop to be placed about anarticle and for tightening said loop so as to bring it into contactwith-said member, said means comprising a positively moved arm, a cordclamp aving a non-yielding connection with said arm, .a movable arm, anda cord clamp having a yielding connection with said last mentioned arm.

31. In a tying machine, means for forming a loop of greater diameterthan the article about which it is to be p laced and means for reducingthe diameter of the loop to bring it.

into contact with an article, said means comprising two Voppositelymovable cord clamps.

'32. In a knot-tying mechanism, means for making a closedarticle-encircling loop with a loose knot in the loop; and means forreduc ing the size of the loop land at the same time tightening theknot.

33. A tying mechanism comprising means for forming an article-encirclingloop with a loose knot, means for reducino` the size of the loop to thatof the article to betied, and for tighfening the knot, and means forpreventing the loops of the knot from tightening before thearticle-encircling loop is tightened.

34." [n a knot-tying mechanism, means for making a closedarticle-encircling loop with a loose knot in the loop; and means forreducing the siz'e of the loo to that of the article to be tiedl and fortig itening the knot; and means for cutting off the ends of the knot.

. HOWARD D. COLMAN.

Witnesses:

C. P. PARKER. GEORGE L. CHINDAHL.

